The Power of Research to Transform Specialty Nursing – Live from ICN
In this special episode recorded live from the 2025 International Council of Nurses (ICN) Congress in Helsinki, host Lea Sims welcomes Dr. Oscar Noel Ocho, Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of the West Indies School of Nursing. With more than four decades of experience in specialty nursing and education, Dr. Ocho brings a powerful voice to the conversation around global health workforce development and the emerging field of rehabilitative care.
Dr. Ocho shares his deeply personal and spiritual journey into nursing, describing how his early role as a school prefect responsible for escorting injured classmates to the hospital sparked a lifelong calling. From nursing assistant trainee to educator and researcher, his career path has been guided by a passion for service, ministry, and mentorship. Today, he leads efforts to bridge education and research in the Caribbean and beyond.
The episode explores the urgent need to strengthen specialty nursing—particularly in rehabilitation—in response to the rising burden of chronic non-communicable diseases. Dr. Ocho discusses challenges facing the Trinidad and Tobago health system, including nurse migration, gaps in licensing outcomes, and a growing demand for rehabilitative services not currently supported by public infrastructure. He outlines two key research initiatives: one exploring cognitive therapy for post-stroke patients through non-physical modalities, and another studying caregiver attitudes in adult home care environments.
Lea and Dr. Ocho also discuss the importance of globally recognized credentials, like TruMerit’s newly launched Certified Global Nurse Rehabilitation credential, and how such certifications can drive policy change, raise care standards, and elevate the role of nurses in underserved specialties. As a member of TruMerit’s advisory panel, Dr. Ocho advocates for Caribbean representation in shaping global frameworks and sees certification as a catalyst for subspecialty development across regions.
Whether you’re an educator, clinician, policymaker, or advocate, this episode offers a thoughtful look at how research, credentials, and leadership can transform not just the nursing profession—but the future of global healthcare delivery.
Tune in at trumerit.org/podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.
